Author(s): Alla Ndione, Jean Fall and Ndeye Codou Mbaye

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to compare two diets based on locust meal (Ornithachris turbida) and shea caterpillar (Cirina butyrospermi) on the growth performance of Nile tilapia. Three isoproteinic (35% crude protein) and isolipidic (13% crude lipid) diets were formulated. These diets are named R0 (Control diet), R25% caterpillar meal and R25% locust meal. Twenty (20) O. niloticus fingerlings with an average initial weight of 4.85 g were distributed in nine (9) 60 L fibreglass tanks. Fish were manually fed the treatment diets three times a day (08:00, 13:00 and 17:00) for 8 weeks. Feed intake was reduced every two weeks, from 10, 8, 6 and 4% of body weight. The results of this study showed that the highest values for growth such as final average weight (fAW), absolute average weight gain (AWG), relative average weight gain (rAWG), specific growth rate (SGR) and feed efficiencies such as lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) were obtained in fish fed the diet containing 25% caterpillar meal with respectively (16.95 g, 12.12 g, 250.83%, 2.24%/day and 1.06). However, these values did not differ statistically from those of the control and R25% cricket diets. Analysis of the flesh of fish fed the different treatment diets showed that protein levels were higher in fish fed the R0 control diet (72.32%), while lipid levels were higher in fish fed the R25% caterpillar diet (19.87%). Ash levels were highest in fish fed the R25% locust diet (20.88%). In view of these results, we can conclude that a 25% inclusion of caterpillar meal and locust meal did not affect negatively the growth of Nile tilapia O. niloticus fry.

DOI: 10.22271/fish.2025.v13.i1b.3028

Pages: 125-129  |  111 Views  36 Downloads

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